Jack Coghill, a former state lawmaker and pivotal figure in Alaska history, died Wednesday morning at the age of 93.
Interior
How Alaska school districts planned to spend that $20 million
Gov. Michael Dunleavy proposed doing away with $20 million in education funding approved by the Legislature in 2018. Superintendents and lawmakers say school districts were counting on that money, and many have already started spending it.
House Republican group pitches plan for House
A group of House Republicans has proposed limiting the rules to allow the House to operate until it has a permanent speaker.
House deadlock persists after Knopp votes for himself for speaker
Rep. Gary Knopp said on the House floor that he committed to being the 21st vote for a Republican nominee, but he didn’t say which one. He then voted for himself to become speaker.
Interior Dept. kicks off new round of meetings on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Some people at the meeting expressed concern about the process. Lisa Baraff with the Northern Alaska Environmental Center said that the timeline BLM has been using for their environmental review is too short.
Dunleavy’s midyear budget bill would cut VPSO funds
Gov. Michael Dunleavy has proposed pulling back $3 million in unspent money for the Village Public Safety Officer program. Some Alaska lawmakers expressed dismay at the proposed cuts.
‘Molly of Denali’ creators work to make show authentic to Alaska Native experiences
Kids across the country soon will be able to watch a young Athabascan girl’s adventures in “Molly of Denali,” the first national kids show to feature a main character who is Alaska Native.
Dunleavy proposes constitutional amendments to enshrine PFDs, require public support for taxes, cap spending
The proposed amendments may face a difficult reception in the Alaska Legislature. One Republican senator described Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposals as “a horrible idea.”
Defense Dept. says climate change threatens bases around the country
The Pentagon’s report looks at 79 major military installations around the country, assessing both the current and future risks of flooding, drought, wildfires, desertification and thawing permafrost.
Budget cuts loom as governor, lawmakers eye full PFDs
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has said Alaskans should receive permanent fund dividends of roughly $3,000 this year. But it won’t be easy for state lawmakers to agree on the dividend’s size.